TV-Series
Description
Jirō Sakuma is a supporting character who first appears as a forward for Teikoku Gakuen, known for his strategic mind and his role in coordinating his teammates on the field. He has a distinctive appearance, with shoulder-length light cyan hair, tanned skin, and a grey eyepatch covering his right eye, while his visible left eye is orange. In the Shin Teikoku arc, his eyepatch is altered to reveal his right eye, which has a black sclera. In the Inazuma Eleven GO timeline, he is an adult of 24 years with waist-length hair, often seen wearing a suit and a brown eyepatch, serving as the assistant coach for Teikoku Gakuen.
Initially, Sakuma is portrayed as arrogant and elitist, looking down on other teams and players. This attitude softens considerably following the local Football Frontier finals against Raimon, where he sides with his captain, Kidou Yuuto, in rejecting their corrupt coach, Kageyama Reiji. Despite this change, he remains highly competitive and driven to win, a trait that is exploited later when he forms part of Shin Teikoku Gakuen. Underneath his initial cold exterior, Sakuma is deeply caring and loyal, particularly towards his teammates. He holds a special bond with Kidou, who is not only his captain but also his closest friend. He admires Kidou greatly and is often seen supporting him, but this admiration also breeds a deep-seated feeling of being overshadowed. This complex mix of loyalty and jealousy leads him to make reckless decisions in his quest for power and to prove himself as an equal rather than a follower.
Sakuma's primary motivation in the early story is his loyalty to Teikoku and his desire to stand alongside Kidou. After Kidou leaves Teikoku to join Raimon, Sakuma feels betrayed and abandoned. This sense of loss is manipulated by Fudou Akio, who convinces Sakuma and his teammate Genda Koujirou to join Shin Teikoku and once again fall under Kageyama's influence. Driven by a need for revenge and a desire to surpass Kidou, Sakuma resorts to using a forbidden and dangerous hissatsu technique, the Emperor Penguin No. 1, during the match against Raimon. He overuses the technique despite Kidou's pleas, eventually collapsing from the physical strain. Hospitalized once more, he apologizes to Kidou and expresses a wish to play alongside him again. In the third season, his motivation shifts towards redemption and contribution. Although not initially selected for the national team, Inazuma Japan, he joins later to replace an injured player. Alongside Kidou and Fudou, he works to overcome past grudges, investigating Kageyama's schemes and mastering the combined technique Emperor Penguin No. 3.
Throughout the series, Sakuma's most significant relationship is with Kidou Yuuto. He is Kidou's trusted lieutenant and closest friend, often acting as a strategist to support him. His entire arc in the second season is defined by his feelings of resentment and inadequacy towards Kidou, which he eventually overcomes. His relationship with Fudou Akio begins with intense distrust and animosity, as he blames Fudou for leading him down a dark path. Over time, as Fudou's true nature becomes clearer, Sakuma learns to trust him, and they become effective partners on the field, most notably by perfecting the Emperor Penguin No. 3 together. He also shares a close, long-standing friendship with Genda Koujirou, the team's goalkeeper, with whom he is frequently seen and who supports him staunchly during his hospitalization.
Sakuma undergoes significant development, evolving from an arrogant elite player to a bitter rival of his former friend and finally into a mature and dependable teammate. His most dramatic change occurs during the Shin Teikoku arc, where his desperation to succeed leads him to self-destructive behavior. His physical collapse and subsequent apology mark a turning point. By the third season, he has learned to reconcile his competitive drive with his loyalty to his friends. He no longer sees himself as being in Kidou's shadow but as an equal contributor. In Inazuma Eleven GO, this maturity is fully realized. He works alongside Kidou as an assistant coach, sharing a formal and serious dynamic, but is secretly a member of the Resistance, working to free Teikoku from the control of the Fifth Sector by identifying and removing SEEDs from the team.
As a forward, Sakuma is known for his speed, agility, and powerful shots, often involving penguins. His signature solo technique is the forbidden Koutei Penguin 1gou (Emperor Penguin No. 1), a shot so powerful that it endangers the user's legs. He also masters the collaborative Koutei Penguin 2gou (Emperor Penguin No. 2) with Kidou and another teammate, and later the Koutei Penguin 3gou (Emperor Penguin No. 3) with Kidou and Fudou. Other notable techniques include the combination shot Death Zone, which he learns with his Teikoku teammates, and Twin Boost, a cooperative shot performed with Kidou. His abilities are highly respected, and his strategic thinking makes him a valuable asset not just as a striker but also as a supporting player who can coordinate the movements of others on the pitch.
Initially, Sakuma is portrayed as arrogant and elitist, looking down on other teams and players. This attitude softens considerably following the local Football Frontier finals against Raimon, where he sides with his captain, Kidou Yuuto, in rejecting their corrupt coach, Kageyama Reiji. Despite this change, he remains highly competitive and driven to win, a trait that is exploited later when he forms part of Shin Teikoku Gakuen. Underneath his initial cold exterior, Sakuma is deeply caring and loyal, particularly towards his teammates. He holds a special bond with Kidou, who is not only his captain but also his closest friend. He admires Kidou greatly and is often seen supporting him, but this admiration also breeds a deep-seated feeling of being overshadowed. This complex mix of loyalty and jealousy leads him to make reckless decisions in his quest for power and to prove himself as an equal rather than a follower.
Sakuma's primary motivation in the early story is his loyalty to Teikoku and his desire to stand alongside Kidou. After Kidou leaves Teikoku to join Raimon, Sakuma feels betrayed and abandoned. This sense of loss is manipulated by Fudou Akio, who convinces Sakuma and his teammate Genda Koujirou to join Shin Teikoku and once again fall under Kageyama's influence. Driven by a need for revenge and a desire to surpass Kidou, Sakuma resorts to using a forbidden and dangerous hissatsu technique, the Emperor Penguin No. 1, during the match against Raimon. He overuses the technique despite Kidou's pleas, eventually collapsing from the physical strain. Hospitalized once more, he apologizes to Kidou and expresses a wish to play alongside him again. In the third season, his motivation shifts towards redemption and contribution. Although not initially selected for the national team, Inazuma Japan, he joins later to replace an injured player. Alongside Kidou and Fudou, he works to overcome past grudges, investigating Kageyama's schemes and mastering the combined technique Emperor Penguin No. 3.
Throughout the series, Sakuma's most significant relationship is with Kidou Yuuto. He is Kidou's trusted lieutenant and closest friend, often acting as a strategist to support him. His entire arc in the second season is defined by his feelings of resentment and inadequacy towards Kidou, which he eventually overcomes. His relationship with Fudou Akio begins with intense distrust and animosity, as he blames Fudou for leading him down a dark path. Over time, as Fudou's true nature becomes clearer, Sakuma learns to trust him, and they become effective partners on the field, most notably by perfecting the Emperor Penguin No. 3 together. He also shares a close, long-standing friendship with Genda Koujirou, the team's goalkeeper, with whom he is frequently seen and who supports him staunchly during his hospitalization.
Sakuma undergoes significant development, evolving from an arrogant elite player to a bitter rival of his former friend and finally into a mature and dependable teammate. His most dramatic change occurs during the Shin Teikoku arc, where his desperation to succeed leads him to self-destructive behavior. His physical collapse and subsequent apology mark a turning point. By the third season, he has learned to reconcile his competitive drive with his loyalty to his friends. He no longer sees himself as being in Kidou's shadow but as an equal contributor. In Inazuma Eleven GO, this maturity is fully realized. He works alongside Kidou as an assistant coach, sharing a formal and serious dynamic, but is secretly a member of the Resistance, working to free Teikoku from the control of the Fifth Sector by identifying and removing SEEDs from the team.
As a forward, Sakuma is known for his speed, agility, and powerful shots, often involving penguins. His signature solo technique is the forbidden Koutei Penguin 1gou (Emperor Penguin No. 1), a shot so powerful that it endangers the user's legs. He also masters the collaborative Koutei Penguin 2gou (Emperor Penguin No. 2) with Kidou and another teammate, and later the Koutei Penguin 3gou (Emperor Penguin No. 3) with Kidou and Fudou. Other notable techniques include the combination shot Death Zone, which he learns with his Teikoku teammates, and Twin Boost, a cooperative shot performed with Kidou. His abilities are highly respected, and his strategic thinking makes him a valuable asset not just as a striker but also as a supporting player who can coordinate the movements of others on the pitch.